Durbin and more than 1,000 activists attend Chicago immigrant rights rally

Monday, April 12, 2010 CHICAGO (AP) — Immigrant rights advocates in Chicago are applying more pressure for immigration reform, especially in the wake of health care reform.

More than 1,000 activists attended a rally Saturday on Chicago's West Side, calling for reform addressing the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S.

The speakers included U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. The Democrat says it's time to stop separating families.

President Barack Obama has vowed to tackle immigration reform this year, but many activists are skeptical of quick action.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights sponsored the rally. It's the largest group of its kind in the state.